Next generation tear up Veolia Kids Mini X at Queenstown Bike Festival

Start line action at the Veolia Kids Mini X, part of the 2015 Queenstown
Bike Festival.  Credit: Callum Wood.


Around 150 junior riders aged from 3 to 14 took over Butlers Green, Arrowtown this morning for the Veolia Kids Mini X, the feature event on day two of the 2015 Queenstown Bike Festival.

Proud parents cheered on the next generation of local downhillers, slopestylers and road racers as they peddled and paddled around three different loop tracks designed to suit different abilities. There was a choice between a ‘dry’ short course and medium and long courses that both included crossings of Bush Creek.

The boy’s short race was won by 6-year-old Theo Riddle just ahead of his brother Jake with Joshua O’Callaghan third. The Queenstown twins found Internet fame last year when a video of them riding Gorge Road Jump Park went viral. 7-year-old Polly Bennetts also from Queenstown won the girl’s short race ahead of Arrowtown pair Lucy Houghton (6) and Alice David (7).

Georgia Thomson was first home in the girl’s medium race ahead of Caitlyn Hollyer (both 10 from Queenstown) and Jett Fa’amalepe (Arrowtown, 10). Reef Roberts won the boy’s medium race with Tyler Harris (Arrowtown, 9) second and Griffyn Crawford (Queenstown, 8) third.

The final long course ended with a full Arrowtown boy’s podium of Sylvio Billoud (14, first place), Loic Billoud (12, second) and Max McDonald (11, third). Nell Watherston (12, Queenstown) was fastest girl ahead of Amelia McIlroy (12, Arrowtown) and Zoe Crawford (10, Arrowtown).

At the prize giving generously supported by Veolia, youngster Jack Smith from Lake Hayes Estate won the final spot prize of a brand new bike courtesy of local store, Arrow Bikes.

Queenstown Bike Festival director, Geoff Hunt said it was hugely encouraging to see so many youngsters clearly enjoying themselves on their bikes.

“We had everything from littlies on trikes and balance bikes through to some sweet looking machines with riders dressed up like the pros we had at the Super D Enduro yesterday. The kids’ enthusiasm and ability were great to see and bode well for the future of biking in the Wakatipu,” he said.

Also on today’s festival programme, the social Crown Range Ride headed out and back early from Arrowtown to the top of New Zealand’s highest public highway.

The 2015 Queenstown Bike Festival continues tomorrow (Monday) with the Girl’s Only Coffee Ride, starting at 10am from the west end of the Old Shotover Bridge, and a night-time MTB ride. It includes slow, medium and fast groups and departs at 6pm from Torpedo7’s Queenstown store.

More information and results are available on the Queenstown Bike Festival’s website at www.queenstownbikefestival.com. Video edit will be available to watch on the festival’s YouTube channel soon.